title: Differences between African-American adolescent females with and without human papillomavirus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An important policy question is whether high-risk populations can be identified and prioritised for human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection included an audio computer-assisted survey interview and testing of Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and HPV among 295 African-American adolescent females.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that 43.1% tested positive for HPV. Logistic regression analyses indicated that HPV prevalence was not associated with other sexually transmissible infections (prevalence ratio (PR)=0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.51-1.41), unprotected vaginal sex (PR=1.04, 95% CI=0.56-1.92), having sex with an older male partner (PR=1.12, 95% CI=0.64-1.96), and having a casual partner (PR=0.89, 95% CI=0.54-1.48). Additionally, t-tests indicated that HPV prevalence was not associated with frequency of vaginal sex (t=0.17, P=0.87), protected sex (t=-0.16, P=0.87), number of recent (t=0.40, P=0.69) or lifetime (t=1.45, P=0.15) sexual partners. However, those testing positive for HPV were younger (t=1.97, P=0.05) and reported current use of birth control pills (PR=2.38, 95% CI=1.00-5.63).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may not be possible to identify those with elevated risk of HPV acquisition. Thus, HPV vaccination, regardless of risk indicators, may be the most efficacious public health strategy.
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wingood
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Diclemente
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Eve S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult